In design, the color purple is often associated with the cold, dark months; a shot of the royal color to add warmth to the room.

But in Southern California, at this time of the year, the jacaranda tree blooms, creating a canopy of purple flowers as one drives or walks along the street.

I didn’t know the name of the tree, until my neighbor, who is originally from South Africa, identified it. She said it is also a popular tree there.

I suppose one could say that the jacaranda is the Southern Californian equivalent of the cherry blossom. In this case, it blooms at a time when spring is soon about to rotate into summer, when the days will be long and hot. Days that somehow need to be grabbed and savored at the same time, before fall slips in again.